Quilting apparatus



y 31, 3 c. MILNER QUILTING A PARATUS Filed July 13, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 31, 1938. Q M|LNER '7 QUILTING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I May 31, 1938. c. MILNER QUILTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 13, 1936 Figure 10 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line |0--|0, Figure 2.

The quilting apparatus, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a main work supporting carriagel and a sewing machine carriage 2 that may be of any suitable construction and which are mounted in cooperative relation with each other in the conventional manner upon respective tracks 3 and 4. The rails of one track as 3, are arranged intermediate the rails of the other track 4 and extend at substantially right angles thereto. The carriage 2 has a power sewing machine 6 mounted thereon and which may be of any suitable construction. This sewing machine, as indicated in Figure 1, briefly comprises a horizontally disposed frame 1 secured at one end of the outer end of the carriage 2. This frame extends inwardly over the central cross beam 3 of the carriage 2 in spaced relation therewith and has the inner end thereof terminating in a plane intermediate the ends of the beam and provided with a cloth plate 9. The usual arm I0 is secured to the outer end of the frame 1 to extend over said frame in parallel spaced relation therewith. The inner end of the arm ID has rotatably connected therewith the usual head I l which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 rocked to an inoperative position to permit placing of work in the work holder of the apparatus or the removal of said work therefrom.

This head, as will be understood, is for carrying a needle bar and presser bar not shown which, when the head is rocked to the operative position, maintain a needle and presser foot |2 respectively, in cooperative relation with the cloth plate 9 to effect stitching.

An electric motor 3 is secured to the arm II] to actuate the needle and other cooperating parts of the sewing machine and also to rotate the usual pattern pinion I5. For this purpose, the motor is shown operatively connected with a belt l6 which may be connected in any suitable manner to the drive shaft I! for the needle. A belt I8 is connected with the needle shaft H to be operated thereby and which, in turn, rotates a drive shaft 9 rotatably connected with the beam 8. The shaft I8 is operatively connected with the pattern pinion l5 by meansof two gears 20, one of which is secured to the inner end of the shaft l9 and the other one is splined to a vertically disposed shaft 2| slidably connected with the beam 8 and which has the pinion l5 secured thereto at the lower end thereof. The shaft 2| may be moved longitudinally to bring the pinion I 5 into and out of cooperative relation with a pattern track 22 mounted on the carriage by any suitable means as lever 23 pivotally connected intermediate its ends as at 23' to the frame 1 and which has one end thereof operatively connected with the shaft 2| by a collar 24.

The carriage comprises a platform or base 25 supported in the usual manner upon wheels 26 adapted to travel on track 3. The base 25 is adapted to move beneath the cross beam 8 of carriage 2 and has secured thereto the hereinbefore mentioned pattern track 22 which may be of any suitable construction and is adapted to be engaged by the pattern pinion l5 mounted on carriage 2 for actuating said carriages along their respective tracks in directions transverse to each other whereby the needle carried by the sewing machine head II will be moved over the work in a path corresponding to the design of the pattern.

Secured to the base 25 are a plurality of, in

this instance four, upright members or posts 28 arranged in pairs with the posts of each pair connected with a respective side of the base, as shown. The posts 28 extend to a position above the horizontal plane of the cross beam 8 of carriage 2 for carrying a work supporting frame 29. This frame as illustrated more particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 5, is arranged in a horizontal plane extending intermediate the sewing machine head II and cloth plate 9 and comprises a pair of rectangular frame members 3| and 32 arranged in cooperative relation with each other for clamping the work therebetween.

One of the clamping frame members as 3| is composed of a pair of side bars 33 which, in this instance, are in the form of angle irons and are arranged to extend longitudinally of the cross beam 8 in parallel spaced relation with each other. These side bars 33 are each connected by a pair of brackets 34 with a respective pair of posts 28, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The ends of the side bars 33 are connected with each other by a respective cross or end bar 35. These end bars 35 are also in the form of angle irons similar to the side bars 33, and the forward bar has a guide strip 31 secured to the horizontal flange thereof to extend upwardly a short distance beyond the upper face of the side bars 33, as shown in Figure 5.

The other clamping frame member 32 comprises a pair of side bars 39 which extend in parallel vertical spaced relation with the side bars 33 and a pair of end bars 40 which are secured to the ends of the side bars 39, as shown in Figure 5. The side bars 39 and end bars 49 are arranged in vertical edgewise position with the lower edge of the forward end bar positioned above the lower edge of the side bars a distance corresponding to the distance the end bar 31 of the lower frame 3| is positioned above the side bars 33. It will thus be seen that although the adjacent edges of the clamping frames are uneven, when the frame 32 is moved into clamping engagement with the frame 3|, the bars of said frame will engage the bars of the lower frame with equal tension.

The upper frame 32 is normally supported in a raised position above the frame 3| by means of a plurality of, in this instance, six springs 42 arranged with three springs at either side of the frame in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof. Each of the springs 42 is coiled about a respective vertically disposed stud 43. The studs 43 are positioned at either side of the frames 3| and 32 and are secured at their lower ends to a pair of supporting bars 44 which extend longitudinally of the frames in parallel outward spaced relation to the corresponding side bar 33 of frame 3|. These supporting bars 44 are secured to the inner sides of the posts 28 of the corresponding side of the frames as by bolts 45. The upper ends of the studs 43 extend upwardly through an aperture in a respective plate 43. Each plate 46 has one end thereof secured to the corresponding side bar 39 of frame 32 and extends outwardly therefrom in a horizontal plane over the corresponding supporting bar 44. To the upper end of each stud is pivotally connected as at 41 a clamp 48. Each clamp 48 is provided with an arcuate cam surface 49 arranged eccentrically with respect to pivot 47 and is adapted to engage the corresponding plate 46 for moving said plate downwardly against the action of the corresponding spring 42. In order that the clamps 48 may be manually manipulated, each of these members is provided with a laterally extending cylindrical handle 50 arranged opposite the cam surface 49 substantially radial to the center thereof. The opening through the frame 3| is of greater transverse dimensions than that of the pattern 22 while said frame is maintained in fixed symmetrical relation with said pattern by the post 28 and brackets 34.

The frame 3i is also utilized for supporting the comfortable casing in position toreceive the filler and for this purpose, the outer or rear end thereof has secured thereto an open frame or rack 52. This rack comprises a pair of substantially U- shaped end members 53 composed of sheet metal arranged in opposed relation with their open sides facing each other. These members extend a short distance outwardly or rearwardly from frame 3! and are tied together by means of an endless wire band 54 welded or otherwise secured to the outer ends of members 53 as shown in Figure 6. The inner end portions of the end members 53 are each provided with an outwardly extending laterally disposed flange 55 adapted to form a limiting stop for the casing. The end members 53 are, as shown in Figure 6, relatively short members and have the transverse portions thereof spaced. apart a distance substantially equal or slightly greater than the width of the work to be quilted. The lower sides of the end members 59 extend inwardly a short distance beyond the side bars 33, while the upper sides of these members are relatively short and are spaced apart a distance greater than the outside width of the clamping frame 32 to permit the adjacent end of said frame to pass therebetween in clamping the work to the lower frame 3| in the manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

At the rear of the casing supporting rack 52 is mounted a feed table 58 adapted to carry thereon the batting or filler for the casing supported by rack 52. This table includes a carriage 59 comprising a frame composed of relatively short side members 69 and a transverse member 6| secured by brackets 52' to the rear ends of the side members 50. Each of these side members 99 has rotatably connected therewith a pair of flanged wheels 65 spaced longitudinally thereof. These wheels are supported upon a pair of track rails 65 which are secured tothe rear end portions of the supporting rails 44 which are extended rearwardly from the carriage I by tie strips 66'and brace bars 9'! as shown in Figure 1. The upper surface of the feed table 58 is composed of a plurality of slats 68 arranged in slightly longitudinal spaced relation with each other and which have the rear ends thereof secured to a cross bar 69 secured by angle braces 19 or the like, to the cross member SI of carriage 59 as shown in Figure 3. The slats 68 extend forwardly from the cross bar 69 to within a short distance of the casing rack 52 when the table is in its outermost position and are of a length slightly greater than the length of the work to be quilted.

The outward movement of the table 58 along the track 65 is limited by a pair of blocks I2 mounted intermediate the outer ends of the track rails 65 and supporting rails 44 while the inward movement of said table is limited by similar blocks 12 mounted between said rails at the inner end of the track rails, said blocks being secured in place by any suitable means engaging the rails 44 and 65. The table 58 inthis instance, is manually moved longitudinally along the track 65 from a position at one end of the work supporting frame29 and the casing supportingrack 52 to. a

position substantially coincident with the work supporting frame 29. The width of the table top formed by the slats 68 is slightly less than the interior of the casing supporting rack 52 to permit the ready passage thereof through the rack. The slats may be fixedly secured to the carriage 59 or any suitable means may be provided, such as a wedge 13 arranged intermediate the forward portion of the cross bar 69 and each slat 68 as shown in Figure 4 for adjustably securing the slats to the carriage. It is obvious that inasmuch as the slats are supported only at one end, the free end portions thereof will bend downwardly a greater or lesser degree when the filler is placed thereon depending upon the weight of the filler. The adjusting means, therefore, enables the slats to be so positioned that when loaded they will readily enter between the sides of the wire band 54 during the initial inward movement of the feeding table irrespective of any changes in the weight of the filler used.

Also, as the table approaches its extreme inward position, these slat members are so positioned that they will easily move over the guide strips 9'! of the fixed frame 3|, as illustrated in Figure 3, to bring the forward end portion of the works slightly beyond the end rails 40 of the upper clamping frame 32 and above the bars 33 of the lowerframe 3| so that upon downward movement of the upper clamping frame, the forward end of said frame may be brought into clamping engagement with'the work carried by the table.

In order that the slats B of the feed table will not be clamped between the forward end bars 31. and 49 of the lower and upper clamping frames 3i and 32, the cross bar 49 of the upper frame is provided with a plurality of recesses Ml arranged in longitudinal spaced relation along the lower edge thereof in alignment with corresponding slats 59. upper clamping frame 32 may, as shown in Figure 1, be provided with similar recesses 49 which align with said slats for permitting the ready removal of the table to its outermost position after the forward end portion of the upper clamping frame 32 has been moved downwardly toward the lower clamping frame for securing the work therebetween.

The table 58, in this instance, is manually moved along the track 65 to and from the foremost position and for this purpose, is provided with a pair of U-shaped hand straps .15 secured one to the rear end of each outside slat I58. It will now be observed that the table top, when in its outermost position is supported wholly by the carriage I in spaced relation to one end thereof, and suitable braces IE may, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, be secured to the carriage I and the track rails 65 for supporting the outer or rear end portion of the table and for maintaining said table in symmetrical relation with the pattern form 22 mounted on the carriage base 25.

In utilizing the table 58 for positioning the work, as a comfortable, in the work frame 29 in symmetrical relation with the patternform 22, the top and back members as T and E, Figure 7, are first sewed together along both sides and across one end thereof to form a tubular casing C open at one end. This casing is then mounted on the casing supporting rack 52 with the marginal seam formed in securing the top and back members together on the outside, as illustrated in Figure '7, and with the closed end thereof facing the table 58 so that the openend of the casing is adjacent the limiting flanges 56. The

Likewise, the rear cross bar 99 of the L batting or filler F for the casing C is next placed upon the slats 68 of table 58, as indicated in Figure 7, after which the table is manually moved forwardly by the operators engaging the strap 15.

During the initial inward movement of the table 58, the forward ends of the slats 68 engage the closed end portion of the casing C and draw the same inwardly through the interior of the supporting rack 52 and thereby turn said casing right side out. As the filler is moved forwardly by the slats, said filler will be positioned within the casing simultaneously with the mounting of the casing upon the table. When the table has moved to its forward or innermost position, as determined by the engagement of the forward wheels 64 of the table carriage 59 with the stop block 12 positioned at the inner end of the track rails 65, the forward or inner end of the upper clamping frame 32 is moved downwardly by the manipulation of the two adjacent clamps 48 against the action of the springs 13 and firmly clamp the forward or inner end portion of the work in position. The table 58 is then moved outwardly to its rearmost position, leaving the batting assembled within the casing C and with said assembled members in symmetrical relation with the pattern 22 mounted on the carriage I.

After the table has been moved to its outermost position, the engagement of the clamping frame 32 with the work is then completed by the manipulation of the remaining clamping members 48 after which the work is quilted by the operation of the sewing machine in conjunction with the pattern form 22 in the conventional manner.

After the work has been quilted, it will be observed that although one end portion of the casing C has not been closed by sewing the marginal edges of the top and back members together, the batting is so thoroughly secured in place that as the work is removed from the quilting apparatus, after the same has been released by the clamping frames 32, the open end of the casing may be readily closed on a separate sewing machine without danger of the batting becoming displaced. Furthermore, it will be observed that in the case of what is known as a framed comfortable or quilt, where the top member T of the casing is provided with a central portion T and marginal portion T which are different in color or design from each other, the scroll stitching s and marginal stitching m will be symmetrically arranged with these portions respectively, as indicated in Figure 8.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I donot wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, as various changes in the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a quilting apparatus, in combination, a work support, a sewing machine for operating on the work carried by said support, a pattern mechanism for determining the path of movement of the sewing machine needle over the work, and mechanical means for positioning the work in the work support in symmetrical relation with said path of movement of the needle including a filler support and a casing support normally spaced from each other and from the work support, and means for producing relative movement of the work support and at least one of said other supports toward each other.

2. A quilting or sewing apparatus, comprising in combination, a pair of carriages mounted to move in directions transverse to each other, a pattern mechanism and a work support including work clamp elements mounted on one of said carriages in fixed spaced and symmetrical relation with each other, a sewing machine mounted on the second carriage in cooperative relation with the work support and having means operatively engaging said pattern adapted to control the relative position of the needle and work, and means mounted on the first carriage independently of the sewing machine for movement therewith adapted to bring the work into symmetrical relation with said clamping elements of the work support.

3. In an apparatus for quilting an article, having a casing and filler therefor, a supporting frame for the article including normally spaced co-acting clamp members, a table for the filler normally positioned at one side of the supporting frame and mounted for movement into and out of said frame in a plane intermediate the clamp members, and means for supporting the casing in the path of movement of the table to be engaged by said table during said movement thereof whereby said casing would be moved by the table into the supporting frame and be simultaneously assembled with the filler.

4. In a quilting apparatus having a pattern form and a support therefor, a filler carrier connected with the support for movement from a position at one side of the pattern form to a position over said form, means connected with the support for holding a tubular casing open at one end only in the path of movement of the carrier with the closed end of said casing facing said carrier to be engaged thereby so that the casing will be removed from the holding means and the filler disposed therein by the carrier during the forward movement of the carrier, and means for limiting said forward movement of the carrier when the casing is in symmetrical relation with the pattern form.

5. In a quilting apparatus having a pattern form and a support therefor, a filler support including a carriage and a table top secured to the carriage to project forwardly therefrom, track means for the carriage connected with the support whereby said table top may be moved from a position at one side of the pattern form to a position over said form into symmetrical relation therewith, holding means for maintaining a tubular casing having one end only open in the path of movement of the table top with the closed end of the casing facing the forward end of said table top so that the casing will be removed from the holding means and the filler disposed therein by the table top during the forward movement thereof, and stop means coacting with said track means for limiting the forward movement of the carriage whereby said casing will be brought into symmetrical relation with the pattern form.

6. A device as in claim 5 having means for ad justing the table top relative to the carriage whereby materials of different weight may be used.

7. In a quilting or sewing apparatus having a sewing head, a work supporting means for maintaining an article to be stitched in operative relation with the sewing head, a work feeding means including a plurality of laterally spaced slats connected to each other at one end to form a table top, means for producing relative movement of the work feeding means and said work supporting means to bring the work carried by the table top into operative relation with the work supporting means, and work clamping means associated with the supporting means including jaw elements aligned with spaces between the slats for engaging corresponding portions of the Work carried by said slats whereby said jaw elements may operatively engage the work to maintain the same connected with the supporting means upon relative movement of the supporting means and feed means to bring the table top out of holding engagement with said work.

8. In a quilting or sewing apparatus having a sewing head, work supporting means for maintaining an article to be stitched in operative relation with the sewing head, a filler feeding means including a table top normally positioned at one side of the work supporting means, means for producing relative movement of the table top and said Work supporting means toward and from each other, a casing supporting means mounted intermediate the table top and work supporting means for maintaining the casing in alignment with the table top whereby the casing and fill-er will be assembled together during said relative movement of the table top and work supporting means.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the table top is composed of a plurality of slats connected to each other at one end and arranged in transverse spaced relation to each other, and the work supporting means includes clamping elements arranged in alignment with spaces between said slats for engaging corresponding portions of the work carried by the slats during relative movement of the table top and work supporting means from each other.

10. A quilting or sewing apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a carriage having a pattern mechanism and a work support mounted thereon in spaced fixed relation to each other, and said work support including a plurality of work clamping elements arranged in symmetrical relation with the pattern mechanism, a second work supporting means including a table connected with the carriage to move therewith, said table being arranged in symmetrical relation with the pattern and movable from a position at one side of the first mentioned work support and the pattern mechanism into co-operative relation with the work support for bringing the work into position to be operatively engaged by said clamping elements.

11. A quilting or sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second work supporting means also includes a casing supporting frame adapted to receive the table therethrough, and arranged to co-act with said table during the said movement thereof into co-operative relation with the first mentioned work support for assembling a casing carried thereby with a quantity of filler carried by the table.

COBB MILNER. 

